Exercise tube and handle

ABSTRACT

An exercise tube and handle attachment incorporates an elastic tube having a handle(s) fabricated from a strong material such as nylon strapping. The handle is configured, by stitching, to form a passageway and compartment for receiving an end of the exercise tube. A knot is made in the end of the tube to prevent the end from exiting the compartment and separating the tube from the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to exercise equipment. Morespecifically, the present invention is drawn to an elastic exercise tubethat incorporates a unique handle attachment.

2. Description of the Related Art

The proliferation of exercise equipment has been an astoundingphenomenon in a nation whose populace appears to be becomingsignificantly obese. Both print and electronic media constantly extolthe virtues of the latest piece of exercise equipment. Recently, theelastic tube or band has been popularized as a piece of exerciseequipment that can be efficiently and effectively employed in almost anyenvironment especially the environment of the home or office. Theelastic tube also provides the user with a wide range of exerciseoptions and is portable. A drawback of the elastic tube equipment, ascurrently described in the related art, has been the arrangement of thehandles. Heretofore, the handles have been fabricated from materialsthat excessively added to the bulk of the equipment and provedcumbersome in portability and use. Pertinent examples of such relatedart are cited and identified in the accompanying IDS. However, none ofthe cited and identified related art, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to disclose an exercise tube and handle arrangementas will be subsequently described and claimed in the instant invention.Thus, an elastic exercise tube and handle solving the aforementionedproblems are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The exercise tube and handle of the instant invention incorporates anelastic tube having a handle(s) fabricated from a strong material suchas nylon strapping. The handle is configured, by stitching, to form apassageway and compartment for receiving an end of the exercise tube. Aknot is made in the end of the tube to prevent the end from exiting thecompartment and separating the tube from the handle. Foam rubber paddingcan optionally be provided over the handle to provide additionalcushioning if desired.

Accordingly, the invention presents an exercise device that can beeffectively utilized for many resistance-type exercises. The device isportable and fabricated from a limited number of parts thereby limitingmanufacturing costs. The invention provides for improved elementsthereof in an arrangement for the purposes described that areinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing theirintended purposes.

A clear understanding of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment of anexercise tube and handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of a second embodiment ofan exercise tube and handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the handle of the first embodiment of anexercise tube and handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handle of the second embodiment ofan exercise tube and handle according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 and 3 wherein a first embodimentof the present invention is illustrated and is indicated generally at10. The instant embodiment provides for a pair of handles 12 that may beengaged by the feet or the hands (or one hand and one foot) of the userto allow engagement in a variety of resistance-type exercises. Handles12 are attached at the ends of elastic exercise tube 14. As best seen inFIG. 3, each handle comprises a member fabricated from nylon strappingor similar material. The member is folded over to create a loop and forma compartment 12 a for containing an end of elastic exercise tube 14. Apassageway 12 b is provided in the folded handle member so that the endof the elastic exercise tube can be inserted into compartment 12 a.Stitching 16 is employed to secure the ends of the member and definecompartment 12 a and passageway 12 b. After insertion, a knot 14 a(preferably a half hitch) is formed in the end of elastic exercise tube.Passageway 12 b is of a diameter that is smaller than the diameter ofknot 14 a, thereby preventing the end of the elastic exercise tube frombeing pulled through the passageway. Stitching material 16 is strongenough to withstand the rigors and tensions that will be produced duringpredicted exercise routines.

FIGS. 2 and 4 are illustrative of a second embodiment of the inventionwherein the elastic exercise tube 14 is configured in a continuous loop.A single handle 20 forms an attachment for the ends of the tube toestablish the continuous loop. Handle 20 comprises two strapping members20 a, 20 b, stitched together to define passageways 22 and compartments24. As in the first embodiment, knots 14 a (only one is shown) are madein the ends of tube 14 to retain the ends of the tube in thecompartments. A foam rubber member 26 (shown in phantom lines) mayoptionally be positioned over the handle to provide additionalcushioning. Member 26 may also be utilized with the first embodiment.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. An exercise device, comprising: an elongate elastic member; saidelongate elastic member having a first end and a second end; a firsthandle member disposed on said first end, said first handle member beingfabricated from synthetic strapping material; a first passageway formedin said first handle member for receiving said first end; a firstcompartment formed in said first handle member for retaining said firstend therein; said first passageway having a first diameter and saidfirst compartment having a second diameter larger than said firstdiameter wherein said first passageway and said first compartment aredefined by stitches in said first handle member; and a knot formed insaid first end, said knot being substantially enclosed in said firstcompartment and having a third diameter larger than said first diameterthereby preventing the end of the elastic member from being pulledthrough the passageway.
 2. The exercise device according to claim 1,wherein said synthetic strapping material is nylon strapping. 3.(canceled)
 4. The exercise device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a second handle member disposed on said second end, saidsecond handle member being fabricated from synthetic strapping material;being fabricated from synthetic strapping material; a second passagewayformed in said second handle member for receiving said second end; asecond compartment formed in said second handle member for retainingsaid second end therein; said second passageway having a fourth diameterand said first compartment having a fifth diameter larger than saidfourth diameter wherein said second passageway and said secondcompartment are defined by stitches in said second handle member: and aknot formed in said second end, said knot being substantially enclosedin said second compartment and having a sixth diameter larger than saidfourth diameter thereby preventing the end of the elastic member frombeing pulled through the passageway. 5-7. (canceled)
 8. An exercisedevice, comprising: an elongate elastic member; said elongate elasticmember having a first end and a second end; a handle member, said handlemember having a first end and a second end and being fabricated fromsynthetic strapping material; a passageway formed in each of said firstend and said second end of said handle member for receiving said firstand second ends, respectively, of said elongate elastic member; a firstand second compartments formed in said first and second endsrespectively, of said handle member for retaining said first and secondends of said elongate elastic member therein; each of said passagewayshas a first diameter and each of said compartments has a second diameterlarger than said first diameter wherein said passageways and saidcompartments are defined by stitches in said handle member: and a knotformed in each of said first and second ends, said knot beingsubstantially enclosed in said compartments and having a third diameterlarger than said first diameter thereby preventing the end of theelastic member from being pulled through the passageway.
 9. (canceled)10. The exercise device according to claim 8, wherein said syntheticstrapping material is fabricated from nylon strapping and including afoam rubber cushioning disposed therearound.
 11. (canceled)